In an effort to complete Bob's bio for this website in a timely fashion (he had two months to submit something...anything), and at an added expense to the band, it was necessary to send Janet Johnstone, a local reporter, on location to Uncle Johnny's Garage & Grill. She was instructed to ask the questions that all of Bob's many fans want answered. Fortunately, she found Bob in good humor and suprisingly coherent for most of the interview (the session, however, came to an abrupt and ugly end when Bob raised his can of Genny, toasted Alex Harvey as the only bricklayer to ever make something of himself, burped and passed out just before his head fell into a plate of bratwurst and sauerkraut). The following are excerpts from that interview and reflect the multi-faceted personality and diverse talents of this gifted and enigmatic man.



Janet Johnstone (JJ): Bob, where do we begin? How do we get to know Bob the musician?

Bob: To know Bob the musician you have to also know Bob the child...the son...the tradesman...the designer...the artist...the composer...the philosopher...the friend...the family man. You see, all these areas of my life shape my music and drive my creativity. It is the same way with you and your life. What I see and hear coming from you at this very moment couldn't possibly indicate who you truly are. For if that was so, I would be moved to pity.


JJ: Huh? Hey, wait a minute...Are you insinuating?

Bob: Exactly. The whole is made up of many parts and to look at just one of those parts does a disservice not only the other parts, but to the whole.


JJ: Yeah, you're a "whole" all right. Listen, how about if I just ask specific questions and you answer them, OK?

Bob: As you wish.


JJ: What made you want to play guitar?

Bob: Drums were too heavy and there were too many in a kit to haul around. Keyboards were too expensive and at the time, way too heavy. Horns were too loud. And I refused to play accordion, much to my mother's chagrin.


JJ: Can we be serious?

Bob: I am. But if you are looking for that magic moment, that epiphany, if you will, when I knew that I had to play guitar, yes, that happened. First, let me give you a little background. My life always had music and art in it. My parents gave me and my brother and four sisters a wide spectrum of music to listen to, ranging from classical music to rockabilly, while my grandmother exposed us to the world of art. We kids grew up listening to records and pretending that we were in bands. We would even put on shows for our parents. But one day, music and art melted into one "experience" for me. That was the day that I heard "Purple Haze". I can truly say that Jimi changed my life.


JJ: So you went out and bought your first guitar?

Bob: No, something truly extraordinary happened after that. Inspired by that moment with Hendrix, I went to see a popular local rock band, Damnation of Adam Blessing, at the rec center in my town. There I not only saw a very good group and heard good music, but I witnessed with my own eyes what I could realize if I got into a band. Girls! Girls! Girls! The boys in the band smiled at the girls and the girls actually smiled back! Between sets, girls would stand close fawning and trying to talk to the band! What a concept! That's what made me buy my first guitar and that's why I sent for my mail order Ed Sales, "Learn to Play Guitar In Seven Days" book.


JJ: Hmmm...somehow I thought your story would be more inspirational and not so primal.

Bob: That's nothing! You should hear the story of why I became a coin collector. There was this girl from school whose mother worked at the Exit 11 tollbooth for the Ohio Turnpike...


JJ: No, no...that's ok...we don't need to go there! Let's skip forward to the present. Why are you in a band now, particularly this Bad Habit band, and why in God's name are you singing when it is quite apparent that just playing the guitar is an overwhelming challenge for you?

Bob: Huh? Hey, wait a minute...Are you insinuating?


JJ: Yes, singing is a departure for you. Can you give us some insights?

Bob: Well, actually Dennis inspired me to sing in this band. I figured if he has the stones to sing in front of an audience, why not me? I've got nothing to lose. I'm old already and don't really have anyone to impress anymore. I'm bigger than most of my critics, so who is gonna say something bad to me? Besides, Im getting complimented all the time. People come up to me and say things like, "You're singing like you've never sung before" and "I've never heard you sing better". It's compliments like these that keep me going.


JJ: If you say so, but I think that you might want to look into the true meaning of those so-called "compliments". Getting back to the other part of my question, how do you feel about playing in Bad Habit?

Bob: I'm having the best time of my musical life! Simply put, I'm having fun! I'm with two of my best friends in the world playing music that I really enjoy and I play that music in front of some great audiences.


JJ: It seems that we are just scratching the surface in getting to know you. We haven't discussed your musical influences, your musical equipment or even how you got the nickname Carlos.

Bob: Dale gave me the name "Carlos" because of my affinity for the guitar stylings of Carlos Santana. He plays the guitar with an audible passion that takes the listener on an emotional roller coaster. I stand in awe of this master not as a disciple or emulator, but as that listener.

I view musical equipment as the tools that help you get your ideas across to the listener and not much more than that. You'll see that not only in me, but also in the other guys of Bad Habit. As a three-piece band, our concentration focuses more on playing the songs for our audience not necessarily as copycat versions, but as presentations that capture the spirit of the songs. So while it would be nice to have all the topline products with all the bells and whistles, we feel that we can just as effectively present our songs with the eclectic hodge podge of equipment that we use. Plus we're cheap squirrels.


JJ: Bingo! Somehow I think that your last statement rings truer than that b.s. about "spirit of the song versus copycat versions", etc...

Bob, I'd like to neatly wrap up this interview and somehow sum up the essence of you and your personality in relation with Bad Habit. I think that our readers are quite aware of the human dynamic that you bring to the band. That dynamic combined with your musical ability and your God-given good looks can only insure success for Bad Habit and for Dale and Dennis, the other band members that are riding on the crest of your talent. But our readers also know the thoughtful, philosophical side of you. Perhaps you could indulge our readers and leave them with a pearl of wisdom or an insight that would help them through their dreary, ordinary lives. Do you have any parting thoughts?

Bob: No...splat
JJ Note: This is the point where Bob's face ended up in a pile of brat and kraut. Good thing I kept my composure and kicked his chair out from under him. He immediately came too and announced his everlasting love for Genny (that's the beer...not his wife [Debi]). In their undying gratitude, all Dennis and Dale could say to me was "Thanks??? But why'd ya do it??".